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- Reclamation Announces Summer and Fall 2011 Park Events and Ranger Interpretive Programs at Lake Berryessa
News Release Archive
Reclamation Announces Summer and Fall 2011 Park Events and Ranger Interpretive Programs at Lake Berryessa
Media Contact:
Pete Lucero, Public Affairs Officer, 916 978-5100, 08/05/2011 11:21
Jason Jordan, 707-966-2111 ext. 143 , jgjordan@usbr.gov
For Release: August 05, 2011
The Bureau of Reclamation's Central California Area Office announces summer and fall 2011 park events and Park Ranger interpretive programs at Lake Berryessa in Napa County, Calif. All activities will be held rain or shine and are free of charge. Some programs have group-size limitations, so please contact the Park Ranger office regarding availability. Participants should wear sturdy shoes and clothing appropriate for the weather and bring water and sunscreen for daytime activities. Children are welcome, but those under age 10 must be accompanied by an adult.
Topic: Let's Move Outside Along the Smittle Creek Trail
Date/Time: Saturday, August 13, and Saturday, August 27, 8 a.m. to 11 a.m.
Location: Meet at Smittle Creek Day Use Area Parking Lot
Join a Park Ranger for a morning hike along the shoreline of beautiful Lake Berryessa. Get some fresh air and exercise while learning about the flora and fauna of the area on an easy-to-moderate 2.6-mile hike. The trail travels through a shaded Blue Oak woodland, affording hikers scenic views and peaceful lakeside surroundings. Both hikes will begin at 8 a.m. at the Smittle Creek Trailhead and will take about 3 hours. Hikers may stay with the Ranger for the entire hike or leave early if they choose. To reserve a spot or for additional information, please call 707-966-2111 ext. 113.
Topic: California Coastal Clean-Up Day
Date/Time: Saturday, September 17, 9 a.m. to Noon
Location: Pope Creek Bridge Parking Lot & Markley Cove Area
Join Reclamation, the Solano Resource Conservation District and partners for the annual lake and shoreline clean-up event. Volunteers will clean up the shoreline of Lake Berryessa as part of the state-wide clean-up event. Since the program began in 1985, over 800,000 Californians have removed more than 15 million pounds of debris from our state's shorelines and coast. To volunteer, contact Jason Jordan at 707-966-2111 ext 143 or jgjordan@usbr.gov.
Topic: Paddling Berryessa
Date/Time: Saturday, September 24, 8 to 10 a.m.
Location: Meet at Smittle Creek Day Use Area Parking Lot
Experience the beauty of Lake Berryessa from a unique perspective on this Ranger-led paddling tour. Join a Park Ranger for a fun 2-hour paddling trip, exploring the tranquil waters between the shoreline and Big and Small Islands. Watch for bald eagles, ospreys, otters and other creatures as the Ranger discusses the natural and human history of Lake Berryessa. This outing is open to anyone with a kayak, canoe or other non-motorized boat. Coast Guard-approved Personal Floatation Devices (PFD) (life jackets) will be available, but boats will not be available for rent. Participants should bring their boat, PFD, paddles, sunscreen, hat, water and a snack.
Topic: Berryessa Fall Bird Species Inventory
Date/Time: Saturday, October 1, 8 a.m. to Noon
Location: Meet at Monticello Dam Overlook Parking Lot
This program is a great way to get a little exercise, learn some local history and tally Berryessa's fall bird species all at the same time! Join Reclamation Ranger and former professional birding guide Scott Huber as he visits Berryessa's three dominant vegetation regions - oak woodlands, chaparral and grasslands - to inventory the newly returning fall migrants. Led by the Ranger, participants will car-pool the length of the lake stopping for short walks at the most likely spots to build an impressive 1-day bird list. This trip will delight new as well as experienced birders, and Scott will assist novices in the finer points of identification. Along the way, participants will also learn about the history of the Berryessa Valley and the Solano water project. Children are urged to attend but must be accompanied by an adult.
Topic: C.A.S.T for Kids Fishing Event
Date/Time: Saturday, October 15, 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Location: Pleasure Cove Marina
In partnership with Pleasure Cove Marina, Reclamation is hosting the Third Annual C.A.S.T. (Catch a Special Thrill) for Kids Fishing Event. The C.A.S.T. for Kids foundation provides children with disabilities or disadvantages the opportunity to experience the sport of fishing. Kids will be partnered with fishermen for a morning fishing experience on beautiful Lake Berryessa. Reclamation is looking for boaters, volunteers and children interested in participating in this great event. To volunteer or participate, contact Jason Jordan at 707-966-2111 ext. 143 or jgjordan@usbr.gov.
Topic: National Public Lands Day
Date/Time: Saturday, November 19, 9 a.m. to Noon
Location: Meet at the Pope Creek Bridge Parking Lot
Help restore Lake Berryessa's native landscape at this restoration event. Volunteers will plant native trees and plants and install birdhouses as part of an ongoing restoration and wildlife enhancement project. This project is funded through a grant from the California Coastal Conservancy and implemented by Berryessa Trails and Conservation. There will be prizes for volunteers! Please contact Jason Jordan at 707-966-2111 ext. 143 or jgjordan@usbr.gov.
Topic: Various Ongoing Activities
Dates: Saturdays and Sundays from Memorial Day to Labor Day
Location: Oak Shores Day Use Area and the Water Education Station
Keep an eye out for the Park Rangers at Oak Shores on summer weekends. Throughout the day, they will share games and fun presentations on water safety and the natural history of Lake Berryessa. Visit the Water Education Station in Oak Shores to learn more about the lake and borrow life jackets at no charge. Kids "caught" wearing life jackets in or near the water can win prizes! The Water Education Station at Oak Shores is open 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. on weekends, Memorial Day through Labor Day.
Topic: Displays and Exhibits
Dates: Summer Weekends - 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Weekdays - Noon-2 p.m.; closed Wednesdays
Location: Lake Berryessa Visitor Center
The Lake Berryessa Visitor Center offers displays and exhibits on the history of Lake Berryessa and the Monticello Valley and the construction of the Solano Project. It also houses an exhibit of local wildlife (stuffed and mounted) showing the common and not-so-common animals found around the lake. Park Rangers are available to answer questions about natural resources, recreational opportunities, wildlife and the area's history. Brochures, maps, trail guides and other educational information are free of charge.
Interpretive programs and events at Lake Berryessa tie into President Barack Obama's America's Great Outdoors initiative (americasgreatoutdoors.gov) which seeks to empower Americans to share in the responsibility to conserve, restore and provide better access to our lands and waters and leave a healthy, vibrant outdoor legacy for generations to come. Ranger-led hikes and activities at Lake Berryessa also follow First Lady Michelle Obama's Let's Move! initiative (www.letsmove.gov) which is dedicated to solving the problem of obesity within a generation, so that children born today will grow up healthier and able to pursue their dreams. And where better for the public to appreciate and enjoy the great outdoors than at a Reclamation facility like Lake Berryessa?
If you would like to participate in a program and need accommodation, please contact Park Ranger Mike McGraw at 707-966-2111 ext. 112 or e-mail mmcgraw@usbr.gov, or call the Lake Berryessa Ranger Department at 707-966-2111 ext. 113, at least 14 days in advance. For additional information, please visit the Lake Berryessa website at www.usbr.gov/mp/ccao/berryessa
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The Bureau of Reclamation is a federal agency under the U.S. Department of the Interior and is the nation's largest wholesale water supplier and second largest producer of hydroelectric power. Our facilities also provide substantial flood control, recreation opportunities, and environmental benefits. Visit our website at https://www.usbr.gov and follow us on Twitter @USBR; Facebook @bureau.of.reclamation; LinkedIn @Bureau of Reclamation; Instagram @bureau_of_reclamation; and YouTube @reclamation.
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